Automatic window washer



AUTOMATIC WINDOW WASHER Filed March. 192e '4 'speets-sheet-l.

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Attorney Sept.: 7 1926. 1,599,272

C.- H. BELLIVEAU AUTOMATIC WINDOW WASHER Filed March 3, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor I y Attorney (D Q N fifa/ivan 4 l y B Sept. 7 1926.

c. H. .BELLIVE'AU AUTOMAIC wINnoAw vWASHER filed March fs. 192e v4 Sheets-sheets "I l|Il AI 1y `H l rllmmfl Inventor Sept. 7 1926.

* Filed Maron s, 192e 4 sheets-sheet 4 Inventor V. e n r 0 t t A I .I l HHHllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll|Il|lllhlllllli|Il"lllillllmllllllll= 30 J/? s@ I Patented Sept.V 7 1926.

UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC WINDGW" WASHER.

Application `ile. March 3, 1926. Serial No; 92,014.

The presentinvention pertains to a novel automatic or mechanical windowy washer that requires very little manual operation and thus reduces considerably the amount of time required for cleaning a window. l

The principal object of Ythe invention is the provision of a device of this character which, in addition to enabling the advantage already set forth, may be permanently `installed at little expense. The device comprises essentially a window brushV to which water is supplied, and mechanism for moving vthe brush horizontally and vertically over the window at will. lIn addition, a

v special mechanism is provided for removing the brush from contact with the window when it is tobeshifted from the end'of one stroke to the beginning of the next-stroke.

rllhe water hose is positionedwfor the most part at one endV of the apparatus and is weighted in order to prevent tangling.` Since the hose is connected directly to thc window brush, the weight of rthe hose aids in sliding the bruslrhorizontally towards the end of the window vcasing in which'the rloose is positioned.- By means of a balancing` devi-ce, this effect is utilized in winding a spring, the energy of which is expended in aiding the brush to move in the opposite direction, namely, away from the end of the window casing in which the hose is mounted.

. The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and ,in the accompanying 'drawings in which? Figurel is al vertical section of a window frame, showing the device of the invention 1 in elevation VFigure 2 is a horizontal section;

Figure 3 is a detail elevation of the track and parts for supporting the track;

Figure l is a plan section corresponding to Figure 3; y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section at right angles to Figure 1, at the upper part of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a section on the line G-G of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5;

' Figure 8 isr'a detail vertical lsection at vright angles to Figure 1, showing the lower part of the apparatus; y Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical rsection at right'angles to Figure 1, showing in ele-y vation the weighted vhose and `associated parts;

lFigure-10 is a fragmentary vhorizontal,

- line 10-10 of 'Figui-e1;v

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11--11 of Figure 10; i Y

Figure 12 is a detail elevation of the winding'drum and compensating drum;

Figure 13 is a section on of Figure 12; p i

--Figure 14; is a section on the line 141-14 of Figure 13; Y iigure 15 is a detail perspective view;

igure 16 is arear elevation of they Winr brush, the outerc'over being in section; rigure 17 is a. vertical'transverse section, partly in elevation, of the window brush;

Figure 18 is a front elevation of the Win'- dow brush; Figure 19 is a section on the'line 19-19 of Figure 18;Y i i Figure 2O is a section on the rline 20-20 of Figure 16, and 1 i Figure 21 is a section of Figure 17.

Reference to theseviews will now be made ed a guide post 10, one of thel posts having a longitudinal slot 11 for the purpose pointed out below.` Arms 12 extend from each @nut 9 and loosely surround the adjacent post 10 as shown also in Figure 3 in order that, when` the worin Sis turned by appropriate mechanism, the nut will be held from turning and will consequentlyv slide up or down.

Each post 10 is surrounded by' a slidable sleeve 13 disposed between the'arms 12 from the adjacent nut. A finger 14 (Figure projects from the'lowenedge lof the sleeve, and a similar finger 15 extends from a collar 16 slidably surrounding the `post and mountuie une legis on the linev 21-21 v` PATENT'FoFI-lcaf ed over the upper arm 12. The two pairs of fingers 14 and 15 serve to support a pair of horizontal track members 16 (Figures 17 and 20) which are completed by vertical rails 17 secured to the ends of the tracks.

The tracks serve to support the movable window brush and appliances for supplying water thereto. Between the track members 16 is slidably mounted a header box 18 in the sides ofwhich are journaled rollers 19 positioned between the rails 17 at each end of the tracks as clearly illustrated in Figures 16, 2O and 21.V `Within the box 18 is 1nounted a water header 20 having at one enda threaded nipple 21 (Figure 2) to which is secured one end'of a water hose 22.

A bracket 23 engages the lower face of the lower track 16, and from this bracket is suspended a substantially rectangular back frame 24.V rEhe bony of the window brush includes a box-like housing 25,7the back 26 of which receives the free ends of screws 27 threaded through the frame 24. VThe back 26 may be reinforced by integral or soldered Y plates 28 at the points wherev the screws 27 penetrate.Y rThe casing 25 has a partition 29 parallel to the back and in which are formed apertures 30 near the upper edge. Rubber or similar strips 31 are laid against the vertical portions of the marginal wall 32 of the casing and secured in this position by strips Additional strips 34 are secured between superposed and inclined angle irons 35 which are attached to the partition 29 by means of screws 36. rl`he back 26 is also provided with guide pins 37 whichpass through the back frame 34 as shown in Figures 16 and 17.

In the upper part of the Casing 25 and behind the partition 29 is secured a header tube 38 having outlet apertures 39.v Pipes 40 and 41 project rearwardly from the header 20 and tube 38 respectively and are connected by a. flexible piece of hose 42. An angle piece 43 is secured to the upper side of the frame 34 and carries a horizontal roller 44 which engages one of the upper rails 17. The'window brush thus described is enclosed in a cover 45 except in front of the strips 31 and 34 which are designed to engage the window-pane 7.

It will be manifest that rotation of the worms 8 raise or lower the nuts 9 whereby the tracks and window brush are correspondingly moved. In order to impart movement to the worms, a pair of spaced and alined shafts 46 are journaled in the compartment 5 and provided at their outer ends with double pinions 47 meshing with similar members 48 carried by the lower ends of the worms. Another shaft 49 is journaled perpendicularly to the shafts 46 and is directed to the space between the. shafts. The shaft 49 carries an outer operating Vhand-le 50 and is provided at its inner end with a crown gear 51 meshing` with bevel pinions 52 at the inner ends of the shafts 46. Rotation of the handle 5() turns the shafts 49 and 46 and finally the worms 8 whereby the window brush is raised or lowered in the manner already indicated.

The brush is moved horizontally across the window by a. cable mechanism which is controlled from a drum 53 j ournaled in 'the lower part of the compartment 5 as illustrated in Figures 1 and The shaft 54 of the drum has an exterior handle 55 for ac-V tuation. The cables 56 and 57 are wound at one end around the drum 53 and are then passed around pulleys 58 at the ends of the window frame and pulleys 60 near the. lower end of each post 10. The cable 56 is passed over a pulley 61 carried by the corresponding sleeve 13 (Figure 3), and the cable 57 yis passed into the slot 11, through the post 10, and over a pulley 61 carried by the track. Finally the remaining ends of the cabl-es are secured to the header ybox 18 as indicated by the numerals 63 in F igure. 21. As the handle 55 is turned, one of the cables is ywound and 'the other is unwound with respect to the drum, whereby the header box, window brush and associated parts are drawn in one direction or the other along the tracks 16.

A special mechanism is provided for holding the cables taut. At one side of the drum 53V a vertical worm 64 is rotatably mounted in the lower compartment 6 land provided with a bevel gear 65 at its outer end which extends into the compartment 5. The shafts 46 carry intermediate pinions 66 which are caused to drive the wormy 64 through intermediate shafts 67 carrying at their ends pinions 68 and 69 meshing with vthe members 65 and 66 respectively. Each worm 64 is surrounded by a nut 70 having a branch 71 in which is journaled a pulley 72. Additional pulleys 73 and 74l (Figures 1 and 2) are mounted at opposite sides of the member 72, and each cable 56 and 57 is passed over one set of pulleys 72, 73 and 74. The worms 64 and 8 are in the ratio of 2 to 1, and the dimensions of the various gears are so determined that the nuts 72 move on the worms 64 to feed or take up the cables at precis-ely the proper rate. 1t will be apparent from the positioning of the pinions 66 onl the shafts 46 that the worms 64 are turn-ed in opposite directions, but they are oppositely threaded, whereby the nuts ascend and descend together to feed or take up the cable without allowing slack.

A partition 75 (Figures 1 and 9) is provided parallel to one of the ends of the window-frame, forming a compartment 76 for.

the water hose.y This hose, which is designated by the numeral 77 has one end attached to a water coupling 78 inserted in the rear wall 79 of the window casingv as vte inseam Vshown inFigure 9.y The' hose is' passed over a pulley suspended-from the. lower partition 8 and is then'passed through the two I partitions in parallel relation to the adj acent worm 8 and post 10. Each of the two laps 'thus formed by carrying the hose in this It is desirable to take thewindow brush out of Contact' with the window pane while moving the brush from one part of the pane to another prior to commencing a new stroke of lthe brush. The apparatus `tor etl'ecting thisV unctionincludes 'cranks 85 secured to the posts 10 and connected by means or' links 86 to a rocker arm 87 (Figure 1) on a spin dle 88 which is journaled in hangers 89 suspended from the upper partition 2. The spindle V88 has an exterior handle 90 for manipulation. When the spindle is turned to shift the linlzs 86, the cranks are turned and the'posts 10 are moved with them. Due to a notch and rib connection- .Q (Figure between each post 10 and the corresponding v'sleeve 18 and collar 16, the ingers 14 and 15 are turned with the posts and shirt the tracks and window brush towards or away from the window-pane according to the direction in which the. spindle 88 is turned. .The device illustrated in Figure 15 is provided for the purpose of retaining the pivoted to the window casing and hasone.

end laid upon an expansion spring 93 mounted on a bracket'94. The remaining end of the arm rests on a trip member 95 so that this end may beli'fted against the action of the spring. The llower eidge of the arm has a notch 96 adapted to receive a lug 97 carried by the spindle 88. A contraction spring 98 has one end secured to the lug, the other end being secured to the window casing as at 99. This device is positioned in such a manner that the contraction of the spring 98 turns the spindle 88 lin the direction which moves the brush away from the window-pane. Normally, the lug 97 is positioned in the'notch 96 and the spring 98 is expanded when it is desired to move the brush away from the window-pane, the trip 95 is moved to free the rocker 92 :trom the lug 97, so that the spring 98 is free to con# tract and turn the spindle 88. y

It will be lseen from Figure 21 that one end of the cord 84 within the hose 77 is spring.

secured to the nipple 21 by means ot a cross pin 100. Dueto this arrangement, the

weight of the hose and the members 82 serve in aiding the movement or" the window brush horizontally towards the endV of the window casing in which the hose and Vweights are mounted.r The device for balancing this effect 'is provided and is :illus- Vtrated iny Figures 2, 12, 13 and 14. It consists of an auxiliary druml 101 loosely mounted on a stub shaft 102 fixedly supported iny parallel' relation to the rdrum 58.`

The latter has a smaller extension 108,y in

alinement with the drum 101, and arcable 104 has its ends wound on these two members.v rlChe stub shaft is loosely surrounded by a ratchet 105 which in turn is surrounded by a coil spring 106. One endo the spring is secured to the ratchet as at 107` and' the wound. f

When the window brush moves towards.

the hose and weights, the drum 53 must` be turned countercloclrwise Awith reference to Figures 1 and 12 in order to talre up the cable 57.V By means of the cable'104, the auxiliary drum 101 is turned clockwise and the spring 106 is wound. Thus the weight of the hose 77 and members 82, which facilitates turning the drum 58 in countercloclrwise direction, also aids in winding the lhen the window brush is to be moved in the opposite direction, away from the hose and weights, the wound cilitates this movement.y

spring 1fa-` f The ratchet .105 is stationary, being locked 5 anchor for lthe inner end ofthe spring 106 at vall times. It is used merely asa cevice by the pawl 110 in order to providev an v for 'increasing the tension or ,the spring which case the ratchet turned.

The rubber strips Sland 34 are adjusted:

as to their pressure against the window pane by means or the screws 87. The brush is moved horizontally by means of the cables 56 and 57, and vertically throughthe worms 8by actuation of the handle 50 as already described. The stroke of the brush may be either horizontal or vertical as desired. When the brush is to ber moved from the end of Aone strolre to the beginning of the next stroke, it is removed from' the window pane by operation of the handle 90 a-nd associated parts in the mannerv already set forth. i

While a speciiic embodiment of the yinit is to be understood that various alterations in the details or" construction may be made Without departing :trom the spirit of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is zl. A Window Washer comprising apair of parallel Worms, nuts threaded on said Worms, a track suppoted by said nut, a brush slidably mounted on the track, cables attached at one end to saidV brush, and a drum on which the remaining ends of thevcables are Wound.V

2. A Window Washer comprising a pair of parallel Worms, nuts threaded on said Worms,

a. track supported by said nut, a brush slid-V ably mounted on the track, cables attached at one end to said brush, a drum on which the remaining ends orp the cables are Wound, and means for changing the plane ot said brush. y i

9 A ,'1l rl x rn l 1 fw'. 0. y', q c o. n inaov vmsaei compiisin,D a pan i parallel Worms, guide posts adjacent said j parallel Worms, guide posts adyacent said y Worms, nuts threaded on'said worms, arms extending trom said nuts and loosely surrounding said posts, fingers slidably keyed on said posts and supported by said arms, a track supported by said fingers, a brush slidable on said track, and means for turning said posts. Y Y

Li. A Window Washer comprising a pair of parallel Worms, nuts threaded on said Worms, a track supported by said nut, a brush slidably mounted on the track, cables attached at one end to said brush, a drum on Which the remaining ends et the cables are Wound, a vv-eighted hose connected to said brush, a spring balancing device operatively connected to said drum, and adapted to be Wound under the influence of said hose.

5. A Window Washer comprising a pair ot parallel Worms, nuts threaded on said Worms, a track supported by said nut, a brush slid- 4connected to the first named. shafts, nuts on said vsecond Worms, pulleys carried by said nuts, said cables being trained over said l pulleys.

fi. A Window Washer comprising a pair ot parallel Worms, nuts threaded on said Worms, a track supported by said nut, a brush slidably mounted on the track, cables attached Vat one end to said brush, and a drum on which the remaining ends or the cables are Wound, shatts geared to said Worms, an operating' shaft geared to the first named shafts, another pair of Worms operatively connected to the firstnamed shafts, nuts on said second Worms, pulleys carried by said nuts, said cables being trained over said pulleys, and means tor changing the plane of said brush.

7. A Window Washer comprising a pair oit Worms, nuts threaded on. saidv Worms, arms 'extending from said nuts and loosely surrounding said posts, fingers slidably keyed on said posts and supported by said arms, a track supported by said fingers, a. brush slidable on said track, means for turning said posts, cables attached at one end to said brush, a drumjon which the remaining ends of the cables are Wound, shafts geared to said Worms, and an operating shaft geared to the first named shafts, another pair of WormsV operatively connected to the `first named shafts, nuts on said second Worms, pulleys carried by said nuts, said cables being trained over said pulleys. Y

In uf'itnesswhereot I have hereunto set my hand.

@Artinian rr. entravano. 

